Public Relations Managers Salary
The median pay for a public relations managers in California is $167,980/year ($80.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $301K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $158,263 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $168K get you in California?
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for public relations managers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $147K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level public relations managers (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $168K. Top earners bring in $301K or more, a $203K spread from bottom to top.
Public Relations Managers salary by metro in California
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $214K | +27% | 980 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $193K | +15% | 1,880 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $164K | -2% | 3,610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $161K | -4% | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $158K | -6% | 650 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $153K | -9% | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $141K | -16% | 300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $140K | -16% | 80 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $139K | -17% | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $139K | -17% | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $137K | -18% | 40 |
| Salinas | $130K | -22% | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $128K | -24% | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $126K | -25% | 50 |
| Fresno | $125K | -25% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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Track public relations managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public relations manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $168K, rent takes 26.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public relations managers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public relations managers typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,868/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is public relations manager a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $168K here vs. $147K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for public relations managers?
California pays $168K median vs. the U.S. average of $147K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public relations managers make in California?
The median is $167,980 a year, that works out to about $81 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,800, and experienced public relations managers can clear $300,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $168K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,484/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a public relations managers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median public relations managers salary is worth about $158,263 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do public relations managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.